Squire

Squire is the second rank in the Imperial aristocracy, and comes from the ancient Old French escuier itself derived from the even more ancient Late Latin scutarius, meaning "shield bearer."

A Squire is generally a young man of good birth who has served as a Page for some time, either in service to the Crown or to a greater Noble. A Squire is the second of three stages to becoming a Knight, which is required in order to ascend to true Nobility.

Expectations
Often, a Squire serves as the representative of a greater Noble in their region of control, or ''demense. ''Such a position generally controls a single planet, and the Squire runs the administrative and taxation duties of that planet from it's capital city. In the event that their Liege carries only a single planet in their demense, the Squire may serve in some lesser function, perhaps controlling a region therein.

Typically, a Squire in good standing is promoted to Castellan after some years of service, and awarded more freedom in their duties and less oversight from their Liege. As with the rank of Page, lineage is important to appointment, but the son or heir of a Squire does not become a Squire themselves upon their predecessor's death, as the position is not hereditary.